Best way to handle it through open dialogue
Communication again is key. Figure out a solution, stay calm, answer all calls, and communication.
I will always stop for a second and reassess the situation. Then I decide whether it is necessary to perform the extra work or if we can avoid it with a better and less costly solution.
When a change order comes up, we contact the homeowner immediately. However, we do not come across many change orders on the areas we specialize in.
We can usually notice curveballs before we start the job. So we like to mention everything from the beginning; this way the homeowner has zero surprises.
Keep in mind that itâs not a perfect world and there will inevitably be a few unexpected situations arise. Stay calm and make good decisions.
Curveballs are easy we just figure out a plan to rectify the situation and keep moving forward. I can rebuild a house theres not much that can happen to throw us off.
Always keep the Homeowner in the loop and stay positive. After all it is construction. It can and often times looks much worse than it actually is while the deconstruction process is happening. Explaining to the Homeowner a realistic timeline and possible issues that could come up is very important.
Our 2 Site Managers have been in the trade for over 25 years
They have the experience to handle all foreseen problems that may or may not come along the way.
The Pop-up of Unforeseen Problems:
We do our best to see them ahead of time prior to giving an estimate. If noted, all parties are notified of possible potential problems. Contracts should contain a contingency provision that allocates money for issues that may surface. As far as handling the client, clear concise communication whether good or bad news is welcomed.
What do you do if there are permitting issues?
- If we pull the necessary permit(s) and do the work, there should not be any issues.
*If it is for non-permitted work previously done by others. Itâs possible repairs, the necessary permit(s) and city inspection may be needed before moving forward.
What happens if problems crop-up that require you to spend extra time?
- It looks like you missed something and you need to spend the time to finish/repair it properly.
- Should have been allocated in the contingency line item in the estimate/contract. Therefore it should be covered.
How do you deal with additional costs that crop up during a project?
- These types of items should be covered during the estimation process and would be covered in the contingency line item.
- If this is something major that nobody could have known about, it will have to be taken care of on a per case basis.
Quickly and honestly!
Every remodel will undoubtedly have at least one âcurveballâ. I always try to let the homeowner know beforehand what we might expect to find or deal with during the job. As soon as we discover something that we didnât expect to find I immediately let the owner know what we found, how or why it needs to be fixed, and give them options on addressing the situation along with any impacts to the design, budget, or schedule.
When dealing with electricity, there are often curveballs. What you see with the walls and ceilings intact is often very different from the reality behind them. You try to anticipate issues that need to be tackled and factor that in to your turnaround time, but that is not always possible. The important thing is good communication with the homeowner; keeping them up to date and being able to explain these issues in laymanâs terms goes a long way. On occasion a timeframe or an invoice needs to be adjusted, but we try to keep everything as painless and transparentas possible.
Discuss options/changes. All change orders should be in writing and signed.
Make sure that everyone is on the same page and that the problem is taken care of immediately. There is no bigger concern than the customers satisfaction.
Remodeling an existing space is always a game of chance. Thereâs a chance that when you open a wall you will find something that wasnât in the scope of work (mold, asbestos, termites, code violations, etc.) or that your plumbing is corroded, or your electrical panel canât handle your new appliances, etc. These are things out of the control of the contractor, and may actually end up increasing the price of your project and the timing. Keep a little bit extra money and patience for unexpected contingencies that will be your bonus at the end if nothing comes up. For your own protection, make sure that any âextraâ work is fully written up and is in keeping with the terms of your original contract.
Remodeling is full of them. There is a solution to every problem.
We always look for solutions to ensure each customer is always satisfied with our work. In our industry there are always changes that take place during a remodel. Those are not curveballs to us. We work hard for every customer and hope they would use us again for other jobs in the future.
âCurveballsâ in home remodeling are the norm, not the exception, and the very reason to why contractors exist, and why a home owner should hire a contractor for their remodeling project.
Home remodeling and renovation by nature is an exercise in best proper preparation, and proceeding with awareness to recognize âcurveballsâ discovered in process, and to have a remedy ready to implement, or the experience and knowledge base ready to create a remedy.
Change orders are the medium at hand used to convey the details and cost impacts of such.
Any contractor who says they donât need change orders or that they donât ever run into anything, is either a liar, or very inexperienced, either one a person you wouldnât want on your home.
As we tell our clients, if it all went according to plan a contractor could be replaced with an app. We do not exist for things going well, we exist to manage the things that go wrong, to remedy and repair, to manage chaos, to right wrongs, to defend the home ownersâ experience, peace of mind, and their home. The home owner is protected from experiencing the âcurveballsâ chaos and breakdowns, because we the Contractors are the Ring Masters at âtaming the wildâ of all that can and tries to go awry.
In a funny sort of way, a good contractor is a master of making lemonade out of lemons, and that is how we deal with âcurveballsâ, we manage and redirect them into being âhome run hittersâ through our depth of experience, knowledge, and remedy solutions formed over many years of dealing with and solving many issues.
Establish the issue, discuss issue with the client, and negotiate a solution.